Dundee Utd V Motherwell at Tannadice Park : Match Preview

20 February 2014 07:01

Dundee United manager Jackie McNamara believes his side have every right to feel confident going into Friday night's Scottish Premiership match with Motherwell at Tannadice.

The Tayside club have recorded back-to-back wins in recent weeks over St Mirren and Kilmarnock to end a seven-game winless streak which began over the festive period.

McNamara's side are sitting fourth in the table and beginning to recapture the kind of form which earned them no shortage of praise prior to Christmas.

Now they welcome Stuart McCall's Motherwell to Tayside for their televised league meeting, with McNamara telling them to believe firmly in their ability.

He said: "The lads are looking forward to the match.

"Motherwell are a good side and it's one which we should be going into with a bit of confidence.

"We've had a couple of positive results in our last two games which have been well deserved. We still haven't been at our best which is a good thing in a way.

"We know we can play better but the important thing is that we're back into the winning habit.

"Winning matches breeds confidence and we will need to be brave on the night against a quality side like Motherwell."

McNamara is full of praise for opposite number McCall for the rebuilding job he carried out at the Lanarkshire club over the summer.

However, he maintains the Taysiders will focus first and foremost on their own strengths as they attempt to further climb the table.

McNamara said: "Stuart has done a great job at Motherwell again this season. He did lose some very good players but has replaced them and they're still getting results.

"However, it's about what we do in the match. That's always our approach and that's something which will never change.

"We need to show the same kind of energy and enthusiasm levels we showed last weekend to beat Kilmarnock. If we manage to do that, then hopefully we can cause Motherwell problems on the night.

"We didn't all of a sudden become a poor side when we went through that difficult run of games.

"We have got belief in the players and hopefully this game will bring out the best in them.

"It's live on television and the supporters should relish it. They have a part to play and we hope to give them the sort of result they're looking for."

United could hand a return to defender Gavin Gunning, who is back in training after a recent knee injury. Teenager Ryan Gauld is fighting to shake off a niggling hip injury in time to face Well.

Motherwell boss Stuart McCall insists he has no qualms about giving youth a chance after revealing he could be without as many as eight players for Friday's Scottish Premiership clash.

Fraser Kerr, Simon Ramsden, Lee Hollis, Craig Moore and Paul Lawson will definitely miss the trip to Tannadice, while Keith Lasley, Stuart Carswell and Henri Anier - who is set for a scan on a shinsplints problem on Monday - are rated as major doubts.

The casualty list means McCall could be forced to turn to youngsters, such as Jack Leitch, Chris Cadden, Dale Shirkie and Dominic Thomas, but the Well boss is confident his makeshift side will be up for the challenge.

He said: "The bench will be full of kids but I'm not whinging about it. It's just part and parcel of the game.

"It's just unfortunate the injuries have all come at once after having quite a good break from injuries.

"With the addition of Bob McHugh and Adam Cummins going out on loan until the end of the season, it leaves us very short.

"Whatever team we put out tomorrow will be competitive anyway. If we have to throw our young kids in, then let's be excited about it.